Catscan

The exercising group also showed more improvement on measurements of fatigue, recorded the British Medical Journal. 8220;It8217;s an optimistic observation,8221; says Dr Regestein, who studies chronic fatigue and sleep disorders at Brigham amp; Women8217;s Hospital in Boston. Since the exercise programme consisted mainly of light walking at about 50 per cent of maximum heart rate, he suggests that people who want to try this approach 8220;begin with something you know you can do, then build up from there.8221; Dr Regestein notes that the benefits of exercise for CFS patients may go beyond conditioning the body to fight fatigue. 8220;It is very likely that just getting up and getting out into the daylight regularly helps to keep you going.8221;

In Aid of AIDS
Finally, a wonder drug for AIDS may be on its way, if data from animal tests at the Washington Regional Primate Center WRPC at the University of Washington in Seattle are any indication, reports Business Week. Infected monkeys given the new drug 8212; called HE2000 8212; 8220;lived longer, gained weight, and had more energy,8221; said David M. Anderson, assistant director at WRPC. Clinical trials have begun to judge its effectiveness on humans by its makers, the San Diego-based Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals Inc. If these trials are a success, it could be a breakthrough in the 5 billion market for AIDS therapies, as at least 33 million people are living with HIV, according to UNAIDS, the United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS.

Currently, drug cocktails made up of protease inhibitors and retrovirals are used to keep HIV in check and stave off full-blown AIDS. Though they cost thousands of dollars a year, they cannot eradicate the virus. Studies show that over time, 28 per cent of those infected get viral strains resistant to at least one drug. HE2000 could prove to be cheaper than the cocktails because it is easier to make and has to be administered less often. It could also address the resistance problem as it is a synthetic version of DHEA, a natural-occurring hormone. The new drug works by shutting down key cellular proteins the virus needs during infection. Data from the Anderson study, however, shows that though the viral level fell by 95 per cent, detectable level remained, indicating that it does not completely wipe out the virus.

Battling Bacteria
Bacteria in eggs are the latest source of concern. The bacteria in question are Salmonella Entiritidis, a common cause of food poisoning. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, headache and vomiting. It can even cause death in the very young, the elderly or people with weakened immune systems. But this does not mean you should go off eggs, for egg whites are a great source of protein, while yolks contain an astonishing array of essential fatty acids, iron, vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, D, E and K. Some precautions are called for. Keep eggs refrigerated, cook them until the yolks are firm, and cook foods containing eggs thoroughly. You should also make sure you clean utensils used to keep raw eggs thoroughly with hot water after use.